Now is the Time

When people find out I'm a writer, I usually get one of two responses . . .

#1. Can you get me an autograph from Ted Dekker or Francine Rivers or Fill-in-the-blank-favorite-author?

#2. Oh, I've got a book idea that I'm going to write, too.

To which my response is . . .

#1. You'll have to do your own stalking. Ted, Francine and Fill-in-the-blank all have court orders against me. It probably had something to do with the flamingo pants I was wearing at the time. 

#2. Really? What's stopping you from writing that book right now?

To which their response is . . .

#1. A slo-mo gasp of horror followed by a quick, "Geez! Is that the time? Gotta run."

#2. "I'm too busy right now."

Obviously #1 is tied-up in a neat bow and there's no more to discuss. But #2 . . . ahh, number two. You better believe I have one more response left in me for good ol' numero dos.

Here's the deal -- if you have a book you want to write, then write the dang thing. Do not wait until you're retired, your kids are grown, you have enough money to live off of, the planets are all aligned, whatever. Just do it. Now.

Life is short. There are so many people in my life who are currently battling cancer, facing their mortality, unsure how many days are left. Yes, that's sad and depressing, but guess what, Hoss? Every single one of us is going to die and we don't know when. The only breath you can count on is the one you're breathing in right now. If you have a dream of something to accomplish in this life, now is the time.

Don't let fear stop you from writing if that's a dream of yours. Will you get it published? I don't know. Will you even finish it? Beats me. You might fail spectacularly. But that's not the point. You will never know the satisfaction of pursuing a dream if you never try.

So here's your official wake up call from me to you . . . go hard after your dreams today. You're not guaranteed a tomorrow.

First Draft Manifesto: Step Off the Cliff

Writing is not for the squeamish of heart. The sissies. Those who cry like a little girl because of a slanted cross-eyed look. Before you even think about writing a first draft, you need to run over to Target and purchase yourself a pair of big kid undies
. . . which brings up the next point in our manifesto.

Principle #2: Step Off the Cliff

BE BRAVE
There's a certain amount of bravado involved in penning a first draft. How much? Gobs. No, really. I measured. It takes guts to expose the story in your head for all the world to see, but there's no need to hyperventilate. The beauty of a first draft is that no one but yourself need see it. So go ahead. Take a deep breath. Then expel every crazy word idea swirling around in your skull.

TAKE CHANCES
Since no one else needs to ever see this prototype of a story, why not go rogue? Allow your characters to take risks with their actions. Snark up the dialogue, letting it shoot off into conversations you never dreamed possible. Give your plot permission to take a sharp left turn or even mow down into the ditch for some off-roading.

FREEFALL
Your writing will never change or grow if you don't vary the way you write. If you usually write in third person, do a scene in first, just for the heck of it. You don't have to keep it that way, but in the exercise, you might find a new perspective in which to stage that scene. Flail around a bit with structure, like writing only dialogue for an entire chapter. Quit rolling your eyes. Of course you'll go back later and add in setting and descriptions.

First drafts are the safest place to experiment and stretch the boundaries of your usual writing norm. If you were waiting for permission, here it is. Go for it.

Six Word Twitter Festival Starts Today

Today's the day! It's the first day of the second annual Six Word Twitter Festival. This virtual storytelling celebration runs from June 4-6 and consists of 6 word prompts and tweets.

Need some examples?

~ Said he loved me, he lied.

~ A memory buried always comes back.

~ The only thing constant is change.

How can you enter?

1. Follow @sixwords on Twitter

2. Check on the Six-Word Festival page for the full schedule, real-time tweets during the festival, daily editors’ favorites, as well as all the judges’ winners.

3. On June 4, 5, and 6 share your six-word responses to challenges posed by our amazing cast of celebrity tweeters and judges.

4. Download the Six-Word App for quick sixing on the go.

Why should you enter?

The best responses as determined by celebrity judges will be retweeted and announced on SixWordMemoirs.com—as well as be included in a new book of Six-Word Advice, publishing in Fall 2015 from St. Martin’s Press.

Go ahead, give it a whirl. Hey, those are my six words. And so were those. Go make your own Tweet.

Prophet Appreciation

My kids don't read my books. Shouldn't that be somewhere in the fine print of the offspring contract? My husband's only read two. Is that grounds for divorce? I know a prophet is not without honor except in his own town, but sheesh...gimme something to work with here, people.

Of course, authors aren't the only ones who are under appreciated. What about the lowly barista who has to haul his heinie out of bed to open the shop and make sure the java is brewed by 6:00 a.m.? Or how about the widget maker who works third shift and doesn't remember what the sun even looks like? And let's not forget about the monkey cage cleaner at the zoo. They're small, but powerful stinky. Is a simple thank you too much to ask?

Nope, it's not. So today, make it a point to value someone in your life. This doesn't have to be a big deal or hit you hard in the pocketbook. Just a simple, "Hey, thanks for all that you do. I appreciate you."

Let's start an appreciation revolution. That is your assignment. Share the love in the comment section by telling us who you valued.

Writing: It's Not Just For Breakfast Any More

Let's roam outside the neighborhood of novel writing. Just because you don't write books does NOT mean you're not a writer. There are a bajillion other ways you can use your sweet writing skills to enhance other's lives that doesn't involve months and months of plotting and story arcing.

Need an example or two? Here's a little something I whipped up last night for my daughter's upcoming bridal shower:

Very short. Simple. Yet without the words (translation: writing) on this invitation, no one would know where to go or what to do.

Here's another idea: Christmas cards. Yep, it's that season again. Why not put together some words that are meaningful? Doesn't have to be long, in fact, it's better if it isn't.

Commenting on a post on Facebook counts as writing. So does tucking a note in your kid's lunchbox, your significant other's briefcase, or penning a letter to the editor.

The point is that there's nothing magical about being a writer, like they're some kind of unicornish animal. Everyone has a writer inside that's screaming to be let out. Let that muse run free in all kinds of crazy writerly ways, then share your writing successes here. I'll give you a palm-stinging high-five.

What? You're still here? Go write!

Writer's Digest 82nd Annual Writing Competition

Got a spit-shined manuscript laying around the house anywhere? Now's the time to send it in to Writer's Digest. You might just be the lucky winner! Don't procrastinate, though. The deadline is June 3.

The Prizes

Grand Prize: $3,000, one-on-one attention from four editors or agents, a paid trip to the Writer's Digest Conference in New York City, 1 year subscription to Writer's Digest eBooks, a 30 minute platform strategy consultation with Chuck Sambuchino

1st Place: $1,000 and $100 off any purchase from the Writer's Digest Shop

2nd Place: $500 and $100 off any purchase from the Writer's Digest Shop

3rd Place: $250 and $100 off any purchase from the Writer's Digest Shop


The Categories
Inspirational
Memoirs
Magazine Feature Article
Genre Short Story (mystery, romance, etc.)
Mainstream/Literary Short Story
Rhyming Poetry
Non-rhyming Poetry
Stage Play
TV/Movie Script
Children's/Young Adult Fiction

So give it a whirl. Click HERE to enter. The cost is $32, which is well worth it if you win. Speaking of winning, winners will be announced in the December 2013 issue of Writer's Digest Magazine.

Sniff Sniff

Incorporating all the senses into your writing is important, but today I'm going to single out one. Smell. Though some would argue that taste is the most overlooked sensory experience in many books, I land on the sniffing side of the debate. Scents are definitely an underdog.

So let's work on a few ways to connect with a reader's nose, shall we? And I'm not just talking your garden variety the-roses-smelled-sweet kind of thing.

3 Unique Ways to Incorporate Smell

Connect a scent to that character's personality.
Let's say you've got a villain who's a high-stakes Wall Street fella. What's he going to smell like that will make an impression on your reader? Obviously expensive aftershave but don't be afraid to kick it up a notch and include greed in that description.
Example: The scent of fine cigars and indulgence clung to Baxter Huxley, fitting him as neatly as his pinstripe suit.

Connect a scent to a memory.
This is a fun one and a great way to incorporate snippets of backstory. When your character sniffs something in the present, it can recall a one-line memory from their past.
Example: The spring rain left behind a moist, fresh aroma in the air, pulling Emily back to happier days of digging up worms in her gramma's backyard.

Connect a scent to a feeling.
Ready to go outside the box? Of course no one can actually smell a feeling, but a smell can sure invoke a feeling. I suggest you simply do it all in one fell swoop. It might annoy those Amelia Bedelia types who read everything literally, but annoyed or not, it will leave a mark on your reader.
Example: The bowl full of lemons might smell zingy to others, but all Becca inhaled was sour loss.

Here's my challenge for the day...try using one of these techniques in your current WIP. And yes, you have my permission to reward yourself with a big bouquet of flowers for all your hard work.

Heat Up Your Writing

It's dark. It's cold. It's February in Minnesota, and the house we moved into this fall doesn't have a fireplace. Translation: I need me some heat! So, here's my writerly challenge for the day...

Warm up your writing.

Hold on. I'm not advocating steamy sex scenes. Let's get creative, people! I'm talking metaphors and symbolism such as:

Color
Incorporate reds, yellows, and oranges into your writing today. Different shades. Variations of transparencies. Maybe how a color makes one of your characters feel. Think of all the meaning that Nathaniel Hawthorne gave to the Scarlet Letter. It totally worked for him. Last I checked, that book is still selling like HOTcakes (sorry...couldn't help myself).

Objects
Okay, so the sun is a gimme. Let's move beyond that. Other objects that could symbolize heat are a smile, a mug filled with a hot beverage, a sweater, or even a book. But don't simply think concrete. What about abstract concepts like freedom or liberty or forgiveness? Those are all hot topics to explore as well.

Personalities
Create a new character that's a hot-head, able to lose his/her anger in a flash. Or if your cast is already set, put one of your established characters into a 'seeing red' mood for the day. On the flip side, perhaps one of your characters is going to be particularly lovable, exuding some heart-warming feelings.

That ought to get you started. I'm sure you'll come up with even better ideas to convey warm and fuzzy feelings to your reader today. At any rate, you ought to break a sweat just thinking about how to write heat into existence.

Need A Buddy?

Have I found a crit buddy for you. Thanks to one of my buddies (waving at Terri) I discovered a winner of a website for you to visit...and this one is more than just fun. It's valuable.

Ever wished for some outside feedback about your writing? Something other than nice words from your mom or the usual fare from your crit partners? Then you should visit Flourish Editing.

Every Monday is FREE CRITIQUE MONDAY. You send them 750 words of your writing. They send you back a complete edit of your work. I know, sounds too good to be true, so last Monday I tried it. Lo and behold, later that afternoon, I received back a very nice critique from one of the Flourish staff.

Some info about their editors (taken from their site):

We are a pair of well-established editors, Tim Dedopulos and Salome Jones. Between us, we've edited over 25 million words. We've worked in publishing houses in both the United States and United Kingdom, and served as literary agents, editors, publishers, and writers, with more than 100 published fiction and non-fiction books authored between us.

So what are you waiting for? Be bold and give this a whirl. What have you got to lose?

Free Contest

Author/Editor Kathy Ide

Want to go to a writer's conference, but when you open the ol' wallet, moths fly out? Have I found a dealio for you!

Kathy Ide is sponsoring a contest (no fee required) that will choose one lucky author wannabe to win a full scholarship to the Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference. I've never had the privilege of attending this one, but many of my writerly buddies have...and it's highly recommended.

All you need to do is send in the first 5 pages of an unpublished book manuscript, fiction or non-fiction, of any genre here.

But before you submit, definitely read the full details here.

The deadline is January 31st, so why not give it a whirl? You've still got a week or two to polish up your beginning and send it off. Who knows? Maybe you'll be the winner!

And if you are, let me know. I'll seriously put on a cheerleading outfit and rah-rah for you on a Fun Friday vlog.

Publishing Possibilities

Got a short piece of flash fiction sitting around in a drawer? How about an epic poem you penned awhile ago? Or maybe a creepy little horror story you wrote one dark and stormy evening? Have I got a website for you!

places for writers is the absolute all-time best site to visit when you're hankering to enter a contest or looking for a place to submit something other than a novel. They are dedicated to getting wannabe writers published, so they keep the opportunities fresh and updated. It's a Canadian organization but provide information from sources outside of Canada as well.

Check it out then spread the word, especially to newbie writers who are looking for some writing credits.

Question of the Day

Is there something you're passionate about, yet aren't doing anything to achieve that passion?

Take writing, for example. Are you in love with the idea of writing a manuscript yet haven't consistently sat down to slog your way through it? What's up with that?

Knee-jerk answer: fear. Fear of failure. Fear of success. Fear of what others might think.

It's a valid answer, but sometimes there's a deeper issue, a layer below that fear, in a subterranean level of your heart. You're probably not going to want to hear what it is, but hey...when did that ever stop me?

Is it really a fear of failure that keeps you from your goal...or that you're too proud to fail?

Or perhaps what you're labeling as passion isn't passion at all. What if it's pride wearing a mask? Do you simply want the bragging rights to say, "Yeah, I'm going to write a book about such-and-such," attract all the attention that swaggering kind of statement reels in, and bask in the telling of your story instead of parking your behind in a chair and typing your fingers down to nubs?

So here's my question of the day. Make sure you take some time to think it over before you answer...

What is keeping you from achieving your passion?

Naming your roadblock is the first step in hurdling it.

Obscure Genres

Are you ready to stretch your limits? Instead of reaching for yet another bonnet book and/or tried-and-true women's fiction, why not branch out a little? Check out a title in one of these unique genres to spice up your summer.


Dystopian
This genre is set in a futuristic era in which oppressive societal control and the illusion of a perfect society is maintained by corporate, technological, bureaucratic, or moral control. Usually makes a statement about a current trend in society.
Classic Example:
1984 by George Orwell
The story of one man's nightmare odyssey as he pursues a forbidden love affair through a world ruled by warring states and a power structure that controls not only information but also individual thought and memory.

Urban Fantasy

This is a style wherein fantasy and the mundane world intersect in a modern and recognizable urban setting. Think contemporary vampire and you've pretty much nailed the bulk of this genre. Finding a Christian urban fantasy is pretty much a study in futility, but one can always hope that there will soon be some titles popping up. There are some YA urban fantasies that are relatively tame, however.
Example on my TBR list:
Griffin Rising by Darby Karchut
Griffin is no ordinary teen. He is a Guardian Angel charged with protecting and keeping as many humans out of danger as he can. This book chronicles the early adventures of the teenaged Griffin as he comes to terms with his supernatural nature.

Alternate History

In this genre, the author speculates on how the course of history might have been altered if a particular historial event hadn't--or had, as the case may be--happened. Like what if the south had won the War of the States (Civil War for us northerners) instead of the Yanks? 
Example on my TBR list:
The Alchemist of Souls by Anne Lyle
(disclaimer: haven't read this yet, looks great, but likely isn't for the squeamish)
When Tudor explorers return from the New World, they bring back a name out of half-forgotten Viking legends: skraylings. Mal Catlyn, a down-at-heel swordsman, is second to the ambassador's bodyguard, but assassination attempts are the least of his problems. What he learns about the skraylings and their unholy powers could cost England her new ally--and Mal his soul.

Steam Punk

This is a subgenre of Alternate History. It involves advanced technology in an altered past.
Example on my TBR list:
Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld
It is the cusp of World War I. The Austro-Hungarians and Germans have their Clankers, steam-driven iron machines loaded with guns and ammunition. The British Darwinists employ genetically fabricated animals as their weaponry. Their Leviathan is a whale airship, and the most masterful beast in the British fleet. Aleksandar Ferdinand, a Clanker, and Deryn Sharp, A Darwinist, are on opposite sides of the war. But their paths cross in the most unexpected way, taking them both aboard the Leviathan on a fantastical, around-the-world adventure...one that will change their lives forever.


So here's my challenge...choose 1 new genre to read this summer. Even if it doesn't turn out to become a favorite of yours, at least you'll have branched out a bit!

A Break From Our Regularly Scheduled Programming

A few things before you click on the following video...

- I dare you to watch this all the way through without smiling so big your jaw crackles.

- Yes, this is writing related. I can think of no better way to teach perseverance. Caine is a role model for every aspiring writer.

Now then, get out there and write!

When In Doubt...Make It Up!

Last night I went to a premiere reading of a screenplay. The screenwriter (waving at Larry Matthews) constructed his words in such a way so that it was like watching a movie in my head. Besides the memorable characters and intricate plot, want to know what stood out most to me?


Fricky.


Yes, I'm allowed to say that in public and yes, I do still kiss my mother with this mouth. Fricky is Larry Matthew's clever combination of frustrated and icky. One of his characters used it describe how they were feeling, and doggone if it isn't spot on to describe a frequent mood of one of my daughters.


Fricky is a super cool word, which got me to thinking about other cool words that have stuck with me. Ever heard of any of these:


Eyeball
Seems simple enough, like it's been around forever, but it was William Shakespeare who coined this everyday expression.


Growlery
Charles Dickens used this made-up term for the den that Jarndyce liked to retreat to when feeling out of sorts.

Nerd
It wasn't the sale of pocket protectors that introduced this word. It was Dr. Seuss.


Cyberspace
Nope. Wasn't Al Gore that came up with this little gem. it was sci-fi author William Gibson.


Fantabulous
Couldn't find the author of this fantabulous word, but I sure use it a lot.

Craptacular
This one came from a TV show. Ever watch the Simpsons?


See...it's not so hard. Just chop off two words and mash them together. And that's my challenge for you today. Whatever piece you're currently working on, toss in a made-up word by little ol' you. Who knows? Perhaps one of your word creations will make it into Webster's 2050 edition. 

Perched on a Limb

I got some great feedback over the weekend about my vlog experiment...everything from "stop closing your eyes so much" to "that was hilarious". Huh. I had no idea my eyelids have a mind of their own and makes me wonder what would happen if I tried to be funny.

At any rate, I know it was (and will be) a risk to vlog. Risk is something writers take every day. If you don't, your writing will be as fresh as the half-eaten bag of Cheetoes sitting atop my frig.

Blogger/author Seth Godin says that artists do their work out on a limb..."not in the safe places, but out there, in a place where they might fail, where it might end badly, where connections might be lost, sensibilities might be offended, jokes might not be gotten."

Staying in the safety zone is comfortable. There's no pain involved. But neither is there growth.

Here's my challenge to you: whatever piece you're working on today, do something different just for the heck of it. Examples...

- Throw in a crazy metaphor

- Give a character a you've-got-to-be-kidding-me attribute

- Sneak in a stunning bit of sarcasm in the dialogue

- Add a quirky quote from a long dead author

- Confront one of your own fears via a scene with your hero

- Try some alliteration

Yeah, dismal failure is a distinct possibility. But on the other hand, maybe not, and it just might nudge your brain in a different direction that really brings a new kind of freshness to your writing.

My risk for the day? I've added a picture to my blog post and will continue to do so until a mob with pitchforks suggests I do otherwise...and/or I can't find any good pix.